The US launched a major new offensive in Afghanistan this weekend. But just four days in, questions are already cropping up about the challenges troops face and their odds of long-term success. The mission depends heavily on cooperation from both Afghan forces and the Afghan government. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, guest host Chery Glaser learns whether they're up to the job. Also, revving up the debate over nuclear energy, and a activist group goes after affirmative action.

FROM THIS EPISODE

The US launched a major new offensive in Afghanistan this weekend. But just four days in, questions are already cropping up about the challenges troops face and their odds of long-term success. The mission depends heavily on cooperation from both Afghan forces and the Afghan government. On this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, guest host Chery Glaser learns whether they're up to the job. Also, loan guarantees for the first US nuclear plant in 30 years, and the fine art of judging figure skating.

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 209, which banned public institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, or ethnicity. Today, an activist group known as BAMN filed a lawsuit against the University of California, challenging Prop 209. Peter Schmidt, senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education, is author of Color and Money: How Rich White Kids Are Winning the War over College Affirmative Action.

There has not been a new nuclear power plant built in the US since Ronald Reagan was in office, but it looks as though that's about to change. President Obama today announced more than $8 billion in federal loan guarantees for building two nuclear reactors in Georgia, which he says will help meet the need for more clean energy while generating new jobs. Ben Geman writes the Environment and Energy blog for The Hill.

In what's being called a major coup in the war against the Taliban, the group's top military commander reportedly has been captured and has spent the past week being interrogated. The New York Times broke the story that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was seized in a joint operation of US and Pakistani forces. Can he shed light on how the Taliban operates? Will he lead the US to other prime Taliban leaders? What impact might his detention have on the new offensive the US and NATO launched in southern Afghanistan just a few days ago?